Daven Tamayo

Guns, anger, and traffic: The deadly toll of road rage in the Philippines

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Road rage is an all-too-familiar menace on Philippine roads, often escalating into violence, and in some cases, even fatal encounters.</p><p>The recent road rage incident in Antipolo, Rizal, has once again placed a spotlight on this recurring issue, prompting renewed discussions on stricter traffic enforcement and driver discipline.</p><p>The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes road rage as a significant factor contributing to road traffic injuries and fatalities, which claim approximately 1.19 million lives annually. </p><p>As authorities move to prevent such incidents, it is worth revisiting some of the most infamous road rage cases in the country.</p><div><strong>THE CASE OF ROLITO GO</strong></div><p>One of the earliest and most high-profile cases of road rage in the country was the killing of 25-year-old De La Salle University student Eldon Maguan by construction magnate Rolito Go in San Juan City in 1991.</p><p>Go was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, though he later managed to escape in 1993 before being recaptured in 1996.</p><div><strong>JASON IVLER: THE REPEAT OFFENDER</strong></div><p>Another notorious road rage incident involved Jason Ivler, who was convicted for the 2009 murder of Renato Ebarle Jr., a Palace official’s son, in Quezon City.</p><p>Prior to the incident, Ivler, a former US Army member and nephew of music icon Freddie Aguilar,  was already facing charges for a previous road rage incident in 2004 where former Malacañang adviser Nestor Ponce Jr. was killed.</p><div><strong>OTHER CASES</strong></div><p>In May 2004, a fatal altercation occurred along the EDSA-Ayala Tunnel between a 34-year-old Mercedes-Benz driver and a 65-year-old family driver. The confrontation escalated, resulting in the younger man fatally shooting the elderly driver.</p><p>In July 2016, a cyclist was shot dead in Quiapo, Manila, after a heated altercation with a motorist. A ricochet from the gunfire also injured an 18-year-old bystander.</p><p>In October 2022, a 60-year-old jeepney driver was critically injured after being shot by a man who confronted and also punched the elderly driver over his driving behavior in Las Piñas City.</p><div><strong>STRICTER CHECKPOINTS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING</strong></div><p>Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has acknowledged worsening traffic congestion as a contributing factor to road rage, emphasizing the need for patience among motorists.</p><p>&quot;Well, sabi ko nga, congested talaga yung traffic ngayon, kailangan talaga natin ng patience. That’s No. 1, and that’s the reason kaya nga tayo may neuro exam—just to test kung talagang may patience sila,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Well, like I said, traffic congestion is really bad right now, so we really need patience. That’s number one, and that’s why we have a neuro exam—to test if people really have patience.)</p><p>To curb the rising cases of road rage, Marbil said the PNP will implement stricter checkpoints amid the ongoing election gun ban, with the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) joining operations to ensure better enforcement.</p><p>&quot;There will be more checkpoints and more chokepoints. Mararamdaman &#x27;yan,&quot; he said. &quot;We will be requiring yung Highway Patrol to join sa checkpoints natin para mas strict yung paggawa ng checkpoints,&quot; Marbil added.</p><p>(There will be more checkpoints and more chokepoints. People will feel it. We will require the Highway Patrol to join our checkpoints to make them stricter.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/30/driver-s-license-of-road-rage-suspect-suspended-for-90-days-1156">Driver&#x27;s license of road rage suspect suspended for 90 days</a></div><div><strong>STRICTER REGULATIONS</strong></div><p>The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) has expressed concern over the repeated occurrence of road rage incidents and urged the government to strengthen gun safety regulations, including regular neuro-psychiatric tests for firearm owners.</p><p>&quot;Tila yata hindi na tayo natuto,&quot; said VACC President Arsenio &quot;Boy&quot; Evangelista. &quot;Siguro, bisitahin natin lahat ng mga naging issue, ‘yong mga requirement sa license to own and possess firearms based doon sa new comprehensive gun law kung saan kailangan ng neuro-psych test diyan. Gawin po nating yearly.&quot;</p><p>(It seems like we haven’t learned our lesson. Maybe we should review all past issues and the requirements for owning and possessing firearms under the new comprehensive gun law, which mandates a neuro-psych test. Let’s make it an annual requirement.)</p><p>The VACC also suggested tightening firearm training and safety rules and regulation tests for gun holders as part of licensing requirements—measures that, they emphasized, should remain free from corruption.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/31/man-shoots-4-including-girlfriend-in-antipolo-city-road-rage-1210" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Man shoots 4 including girlfriend in Antipolo City road rage</a></div><div><strong>POLICE CALL FOR PATIENCE ON THE ROAD</strong></div><p>Authorities have also urged motorists to remain calm and avoid letting emotions dictate their actions while driving.</p><p>&quot;Ang panawagan din natin sa ating mga kababayan na huwag ilagay sa init ng ulo palagi iyong mga ganitong maliliit lang na bagay na nauwi pa sa pamamaril,&quot; said Col. Felipe Maraggun, director of the Rizal Police Provincial Office.</p><p>(We urge our fellow citizens not to let their tempers flare over minor matters that escalate into shootings.)</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WA_gVQNTmDo??si=2kK_nR9EoWCn_I2v&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Road rage is an all-too-familiar menace on Philippine roads, often escalating into violence, and in some cases, even fatal encounters.</p>

Road rage is an all-too-familiar menace on Philippine roads, often escalating into violence, and in some cases, even fatal encounters.